Marriott International has reached a new milestone in Asia Pacific excluding China. The group now has 800 properties in the region following the opening of La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Luang Prabang, which also marks its debut in Laos.
The hotel is not a new development. Previously operated by Belmond for many years, La Résidence Phou Vao was acquired in late 2024 by KS Hotels and HMD Asia. In March 2026, KS Hotels signed an agreement with Marriott to bring two properties into The Luxury Collection: Phou Vao in Luang Prabang and La Résidence Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is expected to join the brand in October 2027.
The case of KS Hotels is particularly noteworthy. In Luang Prabang, the group also owns the Sofitel and 3 Nagas MGallery, both operating under Accor brands. With Phou Vao, it is introducing Marriott into a city where it had previously worked with just one hotel operator.
The resort is the only hillside property within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed area. Set on Mount Phou Vao amid 1.2 hectares of tropical gardens, it overlooks the city and the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, two kilometres from the historic centre.
The original architecture, gardens and 13-metre infinity pool have been preserved. The interiors, dining offering and guest experience have been redesigned to meet the brand’s standards. The hotel now features 36 suites, compared with 34 under Belmond, across three categories: Garden Heritage, Mountain View and Phou Si Temple.
On the dining front, La Brasserie de la Résidence offers a French bistro menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, alongside a Lao tasting menu. The hotel also organises private dinners at Villa des Arts, a colonial house located five minutes away. The Mekong Spa, housed in a pavilion opening onto the gardens, offers five treatments inspired by Lao traditions.
“Laos opens a new chapter for us,” says Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International, who sees the opening as reflecting the group’s ambition to expand into destinations with a strong cultural identity.
The Luxury Collection currently comprises more than 135 hotels across 41 countries and territories. Marriott International operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,000 properties across 148 countries and territories.
At a Glance
La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Luang Prabang (Laos)
• Marriott International’s 800th property in Asia Pacific excluding China and its first in Laos
• Owner: KS Hotels (acquired from Belmond with HMD Asia in late 2024)
• Conversion agreement with Marriott signed in March 2026
• 36 suites set within 1.2 hectares of hillside gardens in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed area
• Facilities: French brasserie with Lao tasting menu, bar, Mekong Spa, 13-metre infinity pool and fitness centre
• Next: La Résidence Angkor, Siem Reap (Cambodia), scheduled to join The Luxury Collection in October 2027
